Travel Through Your Golden Years! 11 Essential Travel Hacks for Seniors Lauren Saccone June 22, 2018 International Travel, Senior Travel, Travel Guide, Travel Hacks, Travel Tips Growing older doesn’t have to slow you down. Your senior years can hold some of the most exciting and eye-opening experiences of your life. Age is just a number, especially when it comes to exploring the world. So if you’re a senior citizen who’s looking for travel adventure, here are a few essential hacks to help you plan. Be Prepared You can never be too prepared when setting off on a travel adventure as a senior. Doing your homework will pay off big dividends as you embark on your trip. Topics to research and understand includes visa requirements, current health advisories, tipping customs, and travel insurance options. You will also need to fully understand how your smartphone will work if you are traveling abroad. If you are going to be traveling internationally, you would be wise to learn the basics about the currency in your destination. Pack Smart Your safety and comfort are your top priority when traveling, so make sure everything you need will be at your disposal. Taking a picture of important paperwork such as passports, visas, credit cards and vaccination records is a good first step. You can also keep photocopies of the records in your carry-on luggage in case your phone dies and you lose access. In today’s health climate, it is more important than ever to pack hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. Be sure to also bring along plenty of water to guard against dehydration. If traveling by air, a pair of compression socks can help to ward off potentially dangerous deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Plan Your Meds On medication? Make sure you bring extras for your trip. No one wants to be stuck overseas only to find out that they’re running low on a much-needed prescription. Talk to your doctor about packing extra medication as needed, as well as the best methods for storing and protecting your prescriptions. Keeping all of your medications in an accessible carry-on may be a lifesaver. Also keep your medications in their original containers with labels for the customs inspections process. Keep It Simple Traveling is hard enough without adding additional stress. With that in mind, keep things simple and uncomplicated when looking for accommodations. Make sure your hotel is in a location that is central to all your plans, and easy to reach. You don’t want to make it a hassle to get back to your home base at the end of a long day of adventuring. When picking a hotel, look for one that makes your traveling as simple as possible. A lot of hotels offer special consideration for senior travelers, so don’t be afraid to speak up! Fly Direct Why make the travel experience harder than it needs to be? Flying direct will save you the hassle of having to run across a large airport in mere minutes to catch a connecting flight. You will also be less likely to experience cancellations and delays if you have fewer legs to get to your destination. Do some research to see if the airports you are using offer ground transportation for seniors. Be sure to lean on these services if available. Be Safe Security matters, even when you’re on vacation. Before you leave, don’t advertise publicly that you’ll be away from home. This includes social media, so don’t announce when you’ll be gone on Facebook! Thieves can track social media and use this information to rob you while you’re on vacation. If you can, have people check in on your home while you’re away. They can pick up the mail, water the plants, and turn on some lights. This will all give the illusion that people are still at home, and will help keep your house and possessions safe. Stay Safe As a senior, it is extra important that you are proactive about staying safe on your journey. Good safety starts with learning where travel may be unsafe for tourists. Fortunately, today’s modern safety apps make it easier to discern where you can travel with confidence and what areas you should avoid. Good travel apps that focus on safety include Smart Traveler, Emergency App, and Sitata. These apps offer a range of services that will give you peace of mind. Research a specific neighborhood’s crime rate, call for emergency help, and more with the use of these helpful apps. Do not make yourself more vulnerable by failing to take these precautions. Take It Easy Travel can be a lot of fun, but it’s easy to push yourself too far. Sure you want to see all the sights and take in all the culture, but you need to take care of yourself as well. Make sure you set aside time every day to rest and recuperate. Take a siesta, or give yourself some down time to relax. You’ll still have time to get through everything on your itinerary, but you won’t risk your health while you’re at it. Look into Special Services Want to take a tour or travel to a specific location? Find out if there are any senior-centric tours that you can take advantage of. Many historical sites offer tour guides that specialize in senior needs. You can even do a whole tour with other active seniors, allowing everyone to explore at a more relaxed pace. Many museums have hearing support for those with auditory issues. The bottom line: do your homework before you head out on the road. You’ll be surprised by all the resources at your disposal! You Might Also Enjoy: Tips Every Senior Solo Traveler Should Remember Stay in Touch People back home want to see pictures of all your amazing adventures—and make sure you’re safe. Keep your loved ones updated by regularly checking in. There are smartphone apps available for this specific purpose, but if you’re not tech-savvy, a daily phone call or text will work just as well. This way, if you fail to check in, family members can handle the situation accordingly. Consistent check-ins can keep a minor problem from turning into a major travel disaster. Know the Lingo If you’re traveling to a non-English speaking country, learn a few key phrases and words. And please, don’t make the mistake of simply speaking louder in English to try to get people to understand you. (Speaking English with a foreign accent is also a bad idea…) A universal phrase book or a picture dictionary is a traditional way to communicate more effectively. But in today’s hyper-connected world, it is easy to download a translation app on your smartphone. Some of the best choices for translation apps include Google Translate, TripLingo, and iTranslate Voice. If you’re a senior who loves to travel, what other tips can you share with us? Tell us in the comments.
